Patent GB-688116-A (GB)
Title: Process and machine for forming and measuring soft masses such as butter or margarine
IPC: A01J21/02
Filed: 1949-04-07
Abstract: 688,116. Moulding butter &c. SCHWEIZERISCHE INDUSTRIE-GES. April 7, 1949 [April 27, 1948], No. 9542/49. Class 87 (ii). [Also in Groups XVII and XXX] Butter, margarine, &c. is fed into at least one continuously moving measuring chamber having an orifice which is brought repeatedly to a filling point, the butter being fed into the measuring chamber from a housing through an outlet in the housing and the outlet being elongated in the direction of movement of the measuring chamber. The chamber moves along an endless path, and the portions of butter which have been fed thereinto are discharged therefrom to a continuously-movable conveyer the supporting surface of which moves in a plane parallel to the plane in which the orifice of the measuring chamber lies. Three machines are illustrated. (1) (Figs. 1, 2.) A table 3 having four measuring chambers 4 rotates continuously counter-clockwise, the chambers being brought in turn over an elongated outlet 7 in a housing 6 in which works a feed worm 11. As a chamber moves over the outlet the material fills the chamber, raising a piston 5 therein until the piston reaches an abutment 15. When the filled chamber leaves the outlet, control of the piston is taken over by a cam rail 12, and when the chamber reaches a point above a horizontallydisposed conveyer band 16 the piston is depressed by the cam rail to eject the formed block from the chamber onto the band. A stationary horizontal wire 18 separates the block cleanly from the piston. (2) (Figs. 4 and 5.) Here the conveyer band 16 is replaced by a chain conveyer and wrapper pre-forming device. The chain conveyer 19 is driven by a wheel 24 mounted on the shaft 2 of the rotary table 3, and at spaced intervals is provided with carriers 27 which receive the formed blocks from the chambers 4. Each carrier comprises a tubular member 32 within which is slidably mounted a stem 33 depending from a holder 34. The member 32 slides in guides 30, 31, and the holder is guided by a cam rail 38. As the conveyer travels around from A to B with the table 3, the cam rail raises the holder 34 to receive the formed block 17, and then depresses it to deposit the block on the carrying surface 39 of member 32. The carriers 27 are initially provided with a shaped wrapping sheet, and when the holder 34 rises to receive the block 17 the sheet is laid in U-form around the latter. The conveyer then carries the partly-wrapped block to other wrapping stations. (3) (Figs. 7, 8, 9.) The conveyer that receives the formed blocks is a table 41 having holders 40 each comprising a slide 44 disposed in a radial slot 43 in table 41. A spring 45 normally maintains the slide in the outer position against stops 46. The slide is movable horizontally along a bolt 47, but is normally maintained in a central position by springs 49. The holder 40 is vertically movable as in Example (2) above. As the holders move from C to D with the table 3 they are maintained in radial relationship with the table by a cam-lever-spring arrangement that is not illustrated. Wrapping sheets H are initially provided. In Examples (1) and (2) the holders may be vertically stationary. In all the examples the table 3 may be replaced by a segmental chain.